Regulator for dynamo-electric machines



(No Modei.)

0. J. VAN DEPOELE.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO'ELEOTRIO MACHINES.

Patented Oct. 23, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 287,343, dated October23, 1888.

Application filed December 23, 1852. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Dynamo Electric Machines; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The nature of this invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in the construction of dynamo-electric machines, and in thenovel ways of regulating and controlling the currents produced by suchmachines, the whole being combined in one device.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the variousparts, their combinations,and operation, as more fully hereinafterdescribed.

Figure 1 is a vertical central cross-section through the body of themachine, showing'the magnetic core, the coils, and their connections,and also the regulating arrangement for varying the strength in themagnetic field. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section through theaxis of the machine. Fig. 3 is a diagram sec tion, showing the mode ofwinding and connecting the helices of the armature. shows in a diagramthe electric circuit around the magnetic core of the field-magnet. Fig.5 is an end view of the regulating devices. Fig. 6 is a cross-section ofthe regulator. Fig. 7 is an end elevation, showingthe commutator andbrushes, 13+ being the positive and ]3 the negative pole. Fig. 8 is aside elevation of the commutator, which is so constructed as to bringthree or more of the sections in contact with the brushes on eitherside.

In the accompanying drawings, M is the magnetic core, consisting of twoparts of semicircular forni, secured together by an iron bar, B, andscrews passing through the same, as shown. in Fig. 1. The pole-pieces Nand S are also cast onto the circular bands, thus forming a perfect andplain magnet, with no consequent points, having simply a long fiat barbent so as to approach the free ends N S, between which the armature isto revolve. The lower parts of the parts N and S are secured to a base,Z, which, as a matter of course,

is made of some known non magnetic sub Fig. 4'

I stance, either wood or metal. This base Z is se cured by strong boltsto a cast-iron base, Z. O are the helices of the field-magnet, and aredistributed over the whole surface of the core M. These helices are eachwound independently before being placed around the core. All the insideterminals of these helices are connected together by means of aconductor, A, while all the outside terminals are connected to insulatedbinding-posts (marked 2) arranged upon the bar I, which is made of somenonconducting material, and in order to bring all the outside wirestogether, the metallic bars A A are hinged at A, and these bars, beingdi' vided in the center and being brought down on the contacts 2, affordthe means for the current to pass through more or less of said field toregulate its strength.

I is a frame made of some nonconducting substance, and supports theregulating devices above described. The bar I, carrying the bindingposts 2, has arranged upon it the contact-springs C, as shown in Fig. 6.

R is a disk, upon which the metallic contacts R press, thereby insuringelectric communication between the bars A A.

' At A A are shown binding-posts, from one of which the currentis-convcyed by the usual connection to the brush 13+,while theconductthe brush 13-.

R is a thumb screw, which may, if desired, be substituted by a movablemagnet-core, as shown in Fig. 5. The armature is wound as shown in Fig.3. All the inside terminals are connected to the insulated ring It,while all the outside terminals are connected to corresponding sectionsof the commutator. The magnetic core may be made continuous, as in thePacinotti ring, or it may be composed of separate bars, as described inmy Letters Pat ent of September 21, 1880, and June 6, 1882. As will beseen, the wire around the whole armature is wound in the same direction;but instead of being connected, the inside of one section to the outsideof the next section, as in the Gramme or Pacinotti armature, the insideterminals are connected to one common ring, R,while all the outside endsof said wires are connected to corresponding sections in the commutator,which is so constructed as to bring helices, which in turn act upon themagnetic or A is brought into electrical contact withone half of thesesections in contact with one brush, B-]-, and the other half in contactwith the brush B. Thus the current enters all the sections connectedwith the brush 13+ and passes through the ring R to the sections c011-nected with the brush B, by means of said commutator-sections, as shownin Fig. 8. The current thus flowing through said helices will produce inthe armature-core a north pole at N, and a south pole at S, while theneutral points are at O and 0 or in the same relative positions, asshown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 4 I show in diagram the electric circuit around the magneticcore M of the fieldmagnet, wherein M represents the magnet, and, asbefore stated, all the inside ends of the helices are in common contactby the conductor A,while all the opposite ends are connected to thebinding-posts 2. (See Figs. 1, 4, and 6.) Said binding-posts areelectrically connected to springs O,which springs are provided withplatinum contacts. Thus by pressing down the bars A? A upon saidcontacts more or less of the helices, are brought into action upon thecore of the field-magnet. V

In the regulating device already partially described, and of which anend view is shown in Fig. 5, I is the frame carrying the parts alreadydescribed. M is an electro-magnet intended to. actuate the bars A R isthe magnet-core which works the contacts, and A are the binding-postselectrically connected to the bars A, whence the current is led to thecommutator-brush 13+.

In the cross-section shown in Fig. 6 A is the contact-bar, alreadydescribed. 0 is one of the contact-springs. 2 is one of thebindingposts. I is the bar carrying the binding-posts and contacts.

Having described the different parts of the machine, I will now proceedto explain the same when in operation.

By referring to the diagram Fig. 4 it will be seen that the machine isarranged to charge or excite the field-magnet by derivation, one part ofthe current being used to magnetize the field-magnet, while the otherpart is used outside for light or for whatever the current may bewanted. It is well known that in order to produce a good dynamo whichdoes nothcat and does good work, certain proportions have to beobserved,especially in the copper conductor of the field-magnet, inrelation to the armature. These proportions I observe as strictly aspractice teaches; but I differ fromwhat has been done heretofore inmaking up these proportions. Instead of using a single conductor ofproper resistance, I use multiple-conductors around the field of forceso proportioned that when the current is passing through'all the helicesin multiple are, thenIhave exactly the sameresistance as Iwould have ina single conductor, which resistance should be about one hundred timesgreater than that of the armature. This arrangement will be readilyunderstood by referring to Fig. 4, which is'a diagram of my system. Aswill be seen, all the inside terminals of the wires around the field Mare connected together by a conductor, while the free outside terminalscan be put in contact by the movable bar A, placing one helix in circuitafter the other as the bar is moved downward. I have adopted this systemof winding and connecting so as to be able to regulate the current of a.dynamo in proportion to the work demanded from the same, and at the sametime 'to diminish the power required for driving said dynamo when thenumber of lights in the circuit is decreased. I In all systems until nowin vogue rheostats have been interposed either between the work to bedone and the dynamo or in the exciting-circuit, or by putting aresistance between the two poles of the armature, &c. I consider thatall these systems are wrong and wasteful, since, as all these appliancesare outside of the machine, the heat developed in such rheostats is atotal loss of energy, whereas in my system every wire is wound uponthefieldthe field-magnet coils with regard to the armature; and since theproportions are such that when all the helices are in operation thecurrent can pass without heating the machine or sparking at thecommutator, then by taking any number of helices out of circuit I modifyproportionately the intensity of the magnetic field, and neither heatingof the machine or of the remaining helices nor sparking at thecommutator can occur. Thusit will be understood that the dynamo takespower according to the work it is doing.

To understand how the magnet helices are worked, let us refer to Figs.4, 5, and 7. The lamp-circuit starts from 13+, passes to magnet M in atand out at thence to lamps, and from lamps back to B completing thecircuit through the armature. The circuit of the field-magnet runs asfollows: starts at 13+, passes over t-othe bar (or bars) A and bypressing said bar down upon all the contactsO C G C, 850., the currentwill circulate through all the helices, coming out at A, whence it iscarried to B, and completes also the circuit through the armature. Now,let us suppose that the machine will run twenty lamps normally, and thusdo its maximum work. The power of the magnet M is so proportioned withregard to the weight of the bars A that when some lamps are cut out themagnet-core B will be drawn in, thus lifting the bars A from some of thecontacts 0. If more lamps are cut out, the magnet .will draw in deeperits core and lift still higher the bars A this cutting out more of themagnet-helices, and so diminish the intensity of the field of force. If,now,we turn on" the lamps, we decrease the current in magnet M and thecore R will sink correspondingly and place more helices in circuit untilall the lamps have been turned on and the magnet M has let down the barsA when the current is again maximum. It will be readily understood thatsince the lamp-circuit is flowing through the magnet M'-, any change inthe lamps will be felt by said magnet, and it will either let down thebars A or lift up the same in proportion to its strength, and thusregulate the intensity of the magnetic field by leaving more or less ofthe helices in circuit. The resistances of the magnet coils or helicesare all exactly the same, and are consequently all receiving the sameamount of current. The total resistance of all thehelices connected upin multiple arc is the same as if a single-wire helix were used. I donot propose to use this mode of winding in dynamos made on the principleof derivation alone; but the same may be applied to the class of dynamoswhere the field-magnet coils are in the general circuit, (called inseries) This system of winding and connecting I employ also in theconstruction of electric motors, which can thus be perfectly regulated.

The armature, as above stated, either con sists of an iron drum, as inthe Pacinotti or Gramme, or may be composed of a number of iron barsrunning parallel with the axis of rotation. The mode of connecting upis, however, different from anything heretofore done. By referring toFig. 3 we will see that all the coils are wound in the same directionand connected up as follows: All the inside ends of each individualsection are connected to a brass ring insulated from the rest of themachine, while all the free ends or outside wires are connected to acommutator having a like number of sections to correspond with thesections in the armature. This construction allows me to use two singlebrushes, one brush making contact with four sections on one side of theconnnutator, while the second brush makes contact with the four oppositesections, thus making the current to flow through the armature-coils inmultiple arc.

The development of magnetism in the armature will be understood byreferring to Fig. 3 as already stated. Having explained the differentparts of my dynamo, and also its operation, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, IS

1. In a dynamo-electric machine, a fieldmagnet wound with a number ofseparate helices of equal resistance, arranged to be successivelyconnected in multiple are, and forming a derived circuit normally closedupon the armature, and means for automatically throwing more or fewer ofthe said coils into or out of circuit, whereby the field-magnet isenergized to a greater or lessdegree by varying the internal resistanceof its conductor, as set forth.

2. In a dynamo-electric machine, a copper conductor around thefield-magnet, composed of a number of separate and independentconductors of equal (or similar) resistance, adapted to be successivelyconnected in multiple are, substantially as described.

3. In a dynamoelectric machine, a field magnet the helices of which arecomposed of a number of separate coils of equal high resistance, locatedin a derived circuit normally closed upon the armature, and adapted tobe successively connected in multiple arc, and when all are connected toform a proper working-resistance with relation to the armature when themachine is doing its maximum duty, and means adapted to be operated by asingle main current or circuit, substantially as described, for cuttingout a greater or smaller number of said coils to alter the resistance ofthe derived circuit, and thereby to modify the intensity of the magneticfield, as set forth.

4. In a dynamoelectric machine, the bars A-, in combination withcontacts 0 and the field-magnet coils C of the electro-magnets M locatedin the lampcircuit, and operating through the varying resistance of saidcircuit to switch more or fewer of the field-magnet coils into or out ofaction, and thereby regulate the power of the machine to the work.

In a dynamo-electric machine having its field-magnet wound with separatecoils of equal resistance, all in derivation from the armature, andadapted to be successively connected in multiple are, and devices,substantially as described, whereby the resistance of said field-coilscan be altered as desired without the interposition of resistancesexternal to the machine, substantially as set forth.

6. In a dynamo-electric machine, the helices of the field-magnet,composed of a number of coils of equal high resistance, located in aderivation from the armature, and having all the inner ends thereofconnected to a common conductor, and all of the outer ends to separateinsulated binding posts and contactpoints, in combination with ametallic bar or bars or their equivalent, and means for bringing alarger or smaller number of said coils into circuit through the saidbars, whereby the magnetism of the field-magnets and the electro-motiveforce of the machine are controlled, as set forth.

Dated Chicago, Illinois, October20, A. D. 1882.

Vi tnesses:

W. H. BANKS, ALBERT WAHL.

